Enneapogon polyphyllus

HABIT Annual, or perennial. Culms 3–48 cm long. Lateral branches sparse. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute, or convolute; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle antrorsely scabrous above.

Panicle spiciform; linear to elliptic; 4–9 cm long; 1–2 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 4–9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 9–13 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent; with simple hairs and capitate hairs. Lower glume apex entire, or erose; acute, or acuminate; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume ovate; 4–9 mm long; 2–3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; with simple hairs and capitate hairs. Upper glume apex entire, or erose; acute, or acuminate; muticous, or mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma orbicular; 2–3(–4.2) mm long; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins without ribs, or ribbed. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below; inner surface transversely fringed. Lemma margins eciliate, or ciliate. Lemma apex dentate; 9 -fid; awned; 9 -awned. Principal lemma awn 4–7 mm long overall; 2 length of lemma; limb plumose; glabrescent towards tip. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; subequal to principal; of unequal width (outer wider); plumose. Palea 1 length of lemma; membranous. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above; with 0.5–0.66 of their length adorned. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back; hairy below. Rhachilla extension 1–1.2 mm long. Apical sterile florets 4–5 in number; dissimilar. First apical floret glabrous. Apical sterile florets barren; in a clump. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 9 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns ciliate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or obovoid; concavo-convex; 1–2 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Pappophoreae. Kakudidi.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Lemma hairs exceeding base of awns; sterile clump spreading or reflexed.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.